Electric advertising sign



0. FEHLER.

ELECTRIC ADVERTISING SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 12, 1920.

l 28 2 v Patentedsept. 5, 1922.,

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

UNITED STATES OTTO FEHLER, OF BERLIN-STEGLITZ, GERMANY.

ELECTRIC ADVERTISING SIGN.

Application filed October 12, 1920. Serial No. 416,591.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, O'rro FEHLER, manufacturer, a citizen of the GermanRepublic, residing at Berlin-Steglitz, Germany, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Electric Advertising Signs (for which Ihave filed applications for patents in Germany on June 6, 1918, inNorway on June 30, 1920, in Sweden on June 30, 1920, in France on July10, 1920, and in Switzerland on July 9, 1920), of which the followingisa specification.

This invention relates to advertising signs in which an incandescentfilament is used for the purpose of constituting the legend of saidsign. One of the objects of the invention is to arrange the filament sothat it may be changed from time to time in order to alter the characterof the legend or design.

Another object of the invention is to arrange in vacuo a series ofsupporting hooks for said filament of such predetermined number andarrangement that different groups of them may be' selectively chosenfrom time to time upon which the filament may be wound or supported indifferent positions in order to change the arrangement of the designconstituted thereby- Still another object of the invention is to providea rechargeable lamp in which filament supporting hooks are providedadditional to those necessary for supporting the filament in a singlearrangement so that when recharged the filament may be strung on adifferent grouping of hooks in order to change the design or legendtraced by said filament.

With these ends in view, the invention consists in the novelconstruction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter describedand claimed.

Referring in detail to the drawings Figure 1 shows in perspective a viewof an incandescent lamp embodying my invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are similar views of slightly modified embodiments.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a rectangular lamp showing severalbanks of filament supporting hooks according to my invention.

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are cross sectional views taken along the lines1-1, 33, H

and 2-2 respectively of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a front elevation of a modi fied form of my invention.

Referring in detail to the several figures, I) in Figure 1 represents aglass support either fused into one side of the glass bulb of the lampor otherwise permanently supported. Projecting from the face of theglass support I) are a plurality of filament supporting hooks a ofordinary construction. U on a certain group of these hooks selective ychosen is' wound the filament which in thiscase takes theform of asignature, the ends of said filament being brought to the outside of thelamp in the ordinary way by being fused into a glass plug which lieswithin the lamp socket and maintains an air-tight relationship with thebulb.

The invention consists inthe provision of an additional number of thesupporting hooks to that actually needed to carry the filament in thearrangement shown by which provision, the design outlined by thefilament may be changed by rewinding said filament upon a new or dierent grouping of supporting hooks. This is intended to'be done at thefactory or at some recharging station where-the lamps may be returnedfor the making of said change and where proper facilities are providedfor so doing.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3'in which the filamentsupports are of larger size than the neck of the globe the globes aremerely broken when the change is to be made, the. old filament removedand discarded and a new filament wound upon the proper'number orgrouping of supporting hooks to give the required change in the legend.A new globe is then provided the open end of which is large enough topermit the filament support to enter and is then heated and reduced tothe proper size. The saving in this case is in the re-use of the glasssupport I), and the supporting hooks a in their assemblage with thesocket. In the case of 'a large advertising sign in which the lamp is ofconsiderable size and a great length of filament is to be supported theeconomy effected by the repeated use of these parts is an importantadvance over the pres ent practice of discarding the entire lamp when anew design is to be effected.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 and in the details in the relatedFigures 5, 6, 7 and 8 the lamp is represented by the rectangular glassbox at which may have a removable portion not shown, preferably one endthereof, through which the construction shown within the box may beinserted or removed. The said box has molded to one side thereof aprojection f which has inserted therethrough and fused thereto the leadsconnecting to the filaments which are designed to be strung or woundupon the filament supporting hooks 0 carried by the glass plates it.

These plates each comprise a unit similar to that shown in Figure 1 inwhich a number of filament supporting hooks are rovided in excess of thenumber required or a single arrangement of the filament, this being forthe same purpose, namely to provide for new groupings for the hooks,about which the filament may be wound in differ- .ent ways in order toeffect changes in the design of the legend displayed. The plates 11. arearranged one behind the other and being transparent the design may beselected for each plate with a view to its visual cooperation with thedesigns on the other plates.

The glass box 00 carries on its upper surface the plugs 1" which fit ina gas-tight manner into apertures in the upper surface of said box bymeans of which apertures air in saidbox is evacuated, by connection ofsaid apertures to suitable apparatus.

It is contemplated that when the arrangement'of the filament is to bechanged the box a; shall be taken to the factory or recharging stationone or both of the plugs 1- removed and air admitted to the interior ofsaid box before it is opened for removal of the filament. In order toprevent the powerful current of air under atmospheric pressure, whichenters the box induced by the vacuum therein, from destroying thedelicate filament supported on the hooks, bafiles are providedcomprising the receptacles i and 11 both of which may be of identical,construction but are here shown as different for the sake ofillustrating the plurality of modifications. One form of baflle i whichis shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6 comprises a flatreceptacle incommunication at the top with the aperture closed by one of the plugsand having the side edges thereof perforated with numerous small holesfor distributing the air and lessening its draft at an one point. Theother form of baffle indicated by z" and shown in'detail in .Figures 7and 8 comprises a receptacle with elongated plates secured inalternation to its upper and lower surfaces and spaced alternatelytherefrom providing a sinuous path which the entering air must followbefore it finally emerges into the interior of the box w.

As it is contemplated that the box as when used as a display sign ma betilted at various angles or evenrotate the trunnions g are provided forpivotally mounting it upon a suitable support.

If it is desired that the filament on the several plates 12- shall flashsequentially an ordinary periodic switch may be provided fordistributing the current to the respective filaments in the desiredorder.

Should the glass box he of considerable size it will be necessary toprovide inside bracing to prevent collapsing ofsaid box under pressureof the atmosphere. To this end the plate 6 is introduced into said boxwhere it is supported on edge in a'position to receive the compressionstresses due to atmospheric pressure.

Although I have thus described the preferred embodiment of my invention,it is evident, that those skilled in the arts to which this relates maymake various changes in the construction, combination and arrangement ofthe several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. c

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to securebyLetters Patent, is

1. An incandescent advertising sign in which the filament constitutesthe legend, comprising a lamp, a plurality of filament supporting hooksin said lamp, said hooks being of greater number than are required forthe support of the filament in a single position of arrangement.

2. An incandescent advertising sign in which the filament constitutesthe legend, a lamp, a plurality of filament supporting hooks of a numbergreater than that required for a single arrangement of the filament,said hooks being of such predetermined number and arrangement thatdiffercomprising a lamp, a plurality of transparent filament supportsmounted therein and in superposed relation relative to the line ofvision, a plurality of filament supporting hooks carried by each of saidsupports, the number of said hooks-being in excess of the numberrequired for a single arrangement of the filaments.

5. An incandescent advertising sign in which the filament constitutesthe legend, comprising a lamp, a plurality of transparent filamentsupports mounted therein and in superposed relation relative to the lineof vision, a plurality of filament supporting hooks carried by each ofsaid supports, the number of said hooks being in excess of the numberrequired for a single arrangement of the filaments and means fordevacuizing said' lamp.

6. An'incandescent advertising sign in which the filament constitutesthe legend comprising a lamp, a plurality of transparent supportscarried by said lamp and in superposed'relation relative to the line ofvision, a plurality of filament supporting hooks carried by each of saidsupports, the number of said supporting hooks being in excess of thenumber required for a single arrangement of the filament, a devacuizingvalve for said lamp and an air distributing baffle arranged intermediatesaid valve and said filament supports.

7. An incandescent advertising sign in which thefilament constitutes thelegend comprising a lamp, a plurality of trans arent supports carried bysaid lamp an in superposed relation relative to the line of vision, aplurality of filament supporting hooks carried by each of said supports,the number of said supportin hooks being in excess of the number requred for a single arrangement of the filaments, a devacuizing plug forsaid lamp and an air distributing baflie arranged intermediate said plugand said filament supports and means for reinforcing the walls of saidlamp against atmospheric pressure.

In testimony whereof I have'hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

'o'r'ro FEHLER. Witnesses:

EDWARD LANGHOFF, FANSS GEHMIEDEKE.

